Both aspirin and ibuprofen are used to treat the body minor pains. Aspirin is also used to help in preventing strokes and heart attacks. Ibuprofen can be used to lower fever. It is possible to have conditions or symptoms that both drugs can prevent or treat.
You may be wondering whether you can take the drugs together. In a nutshell, most people shouldn’t. Here is the reason and more information on the safe use of these two drugs.
A Dangerous Combination
Aspirin and ibuprofen are categorized in a drug family known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Their side effects are similar and when taken together, making the risk of these side effects increases.
Both said medicines, when taken too much, can cause stomach bleeding. This means that when you take them together increases the risk. The risk of your stomach to bleed from these drugs is higher if you:
Are over 60 years of age
Have or had stomach bleeding or ulcers
Take steroids or blood thinners
Take more than recommended of either drug
Drink three and above of alcoholic beverages per day
Take either drug for a longer period than you should
Either aspirin or ibuprofen can also cause some allergic reaction. The symptoms of these allergic reactions include rash, facial swelling, hives, blisters, and wheezing. Therefore, when you take them together this increases the risk as well. If you happen to experience any swelling or redness as a result of taking aspirin or ibuprofen, see your doctor.
Both the aspirin and ibuprofen can as well cause hearing problems. A person may decrease in their hearing or notice some ringing in their ears. One should contact a doctor if they experience such.
How To Use Aspirin and Ibuprofen Safely
One can use aspirin to help in treating minor pains. The normal and optimal treatment with aspirin is one to two 325-mg tablets after every four hours. One can also take four to eight 81-mg tablets every four hours.
Never take more than twelve 325-mg tablets or forty-eight 81-mg tablets in 25 hours.
Your doctor can also prescribe aspirin to help in preventing stroke or heart attack. These two conditions may be caused by some clots in the blood vessels. Aspirin helps in thinning your blood, thus preventing the blood clots to form. The typical treatment to prevent the conditions is one 81-mg tablet of aspirin every day.
Aspirin can also be taken to prevent colon cancer. Your doctor will direct you to how much to take for this prevention.
Uses of Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is used to treat minor pains including:
Tooth pain
Headaches
Muscle pain
Back pain
Menstrual cramps
Pain from arthritis
Generally, it is used to lower fever. One should take one to two 200-mg tablets after every four to six hours. Always try to take the lowest amount. You should never take more than six tablets in a single day.
See Your Doctor
For you to avoid severe side effects, you should probably never take aspirin and ibuprofen together. However, if there is a need for you to take both, talk about it with your doctor.
Edited by: Jessa (Feb. 2, 2019)
